Holga in Hawaii

Holga in Hawaii


(Above: A common view of Hanauma Bay Preserve photographed with an uncommon camera.) I finally took the time to drop off a "mystery roll" of 120mm medium format film at the local Ritz Camera. To my surprise, the photos that were returned to me were actually Holga photos I took while on vacation in Hawaii back in October 2007. I was intrigued and pleasantly surprised to review each photo since I vaguely recall taking them. During that trip I had 3 cameras and well over 1200 digital photos. Of the meager 12 exposures on the Holga, I got back 4 interesting and delightful conversational piece photos. Not too shabby. I have yet to beat my personal best of getting back 8 of 12 outstanding photos which incidentally was the first time I had ever used a Holga.


I am always amazed with the exposure or "what turns out" whenever I get back the prints from a roll of film. Despite my best efforts to guage the lighting conditions for the given specs of the film in use, the results with a Holga are anything but typical. This photo (above) is of an old church on North Shore. I'm sure if you're from Hawaii you'd know the name and exact location, but for me it was great Holga fodder and a neat subject to grab an exposure of. The day was slightly overcast and evenly lit, but given the lower light I guess this particular frame was a bit underexposed. The neatest part of the image still shows through - an old church framed by an archway covered in vines.


I took this photo while on a drive toward North Shore. This view can be seen along the highway that takes drivers through adjacent Dole pineapple fields. (This view is similar, but taken with my digital.) Again, predicting what would show on the exposure was difficult. Of course, the scene was a bright sun and dark clouds. Everything else almost seemed to be left in the dark until the sun broke the clouds and highlighted the fields. In this particular frame I managed to capture most of the scene since the sun was out. I would be interested to know what this same photo would have looked like with color film.


I will leave you with this last image and final thoughts. I took this photo from the balcony of the Hale Koa Hotel in downtown Waikiki; and, much of that is often conveyed in a vibrant colorful image. Sure, the day was beautiful and warm. This black and white image serves for me as a "memory template." My mind is left to conjure and illustrate the memories of that beautiful morning. I can easily fill the color palette of the picture with the blues of the water, the greens of the palm trees, and even that off-white weathered wall of the hotel next door. What is more are the sounds of the waves easily heard way up from that balcony. I even feel the warmth of the day just getting underway. I love black and white photos. The mind is left to fill in the blanks and imagine that day however one wants much like the reminiscing conversations two old good friends have. I look forward to getting lost in this image on the morning that I wake up desperate to go anywhere but my job or on the days where no place else will do but the balcony of that hotel. We all need an escape from time to time. I captured mine in this one simple view. I hope it takes you there just as it does me.

See you next time. - Eugenio